August 12, 2008, 6:22AM

UPDATE: Family grateful to passer-by who alerted them to fire Updated 6:57 a.m. PLAINFIELD TOWNSHIP -- West River Drive NE, between Division Avenue and School Street, will be closed for most of the day because of a fire. A garage fire early today quickly spread to a house. The garage was destroyed, and the house substantially damaged. The Alpine... Full story »

August 12, 2008, 6:08AM

The Lowell Red Arrows will become the Pink Arrows during Week No. 3 of the high school football season to honor breast cancer survivors and victims and their families in their season home opener. All proceeds for the game benefit three community efforts in the fight against cancer. (Press Photo/Jon M. Brouwer) • Read the storyFull story »

August 12, 2008, 5:36AM

Grand Rapids Police are investigating a break-in at a Southeast Side pharmacy similar to one a few months ago. Just before 3:30 this morning, police were called to Eastgate Pharmacy, 2026 Boston St. SE, after a passer-by noticed a suspicious person in front of the store. Police arriving moments later found the store window broken out. Police searched the... Full story »

August 12, 2008, 5:18AM

John Hudson is believed to be part of an American convoy carrying evacuees from Georgia, the ex-Soviet republic battling with Russia. "I picked a pretty rough time to visit Georgia's breakaway region," Hudson wrote in a Sunday post on his blog. • Read the story • Listen to some of Hudson's reports Full story »

August 12, 2008, 12:47AM

PLAINFIELD TOWNSHIP -- Ethan Ebenstein, White Cloud's superintendent, was chosen Monday as the new chief of Comstock Park Public Schools, winning over the school board with his small-town charm and desire to become part of the community. "I truly believe he loves Comstock Park," said Rena Rhoads, a secretary at Pine Island Elementary School. The other finalist, Kelloggsville schools Assistant... Full story »

August 12, 2008, 12:30AM

WALKER -- Summer camp is not supposed to be this exciting. Swimming, canoeing, fireside stories -- they are no match for a full-scale evacuation. About 1,300 young boys -- including 300 from West Michigan -- saw their weeklong, Canadian camping trip cut short when heavy downpours forced them to slog nearly a mile through knee-deep mud to seek drier... Full story »

August 12, 2008, 12:18AM

GRAND RAPIDS -- At times Monday night, KT Tunstall played the earnest folk singer, ardently strumming her acoustic guitar on the country-infused ballad "The Hidden Heart," her voice climbing to ethereal heights. At others, especially during "Another Place to Fall," she became a winsome pop chanteuse, then nothing less than a full-fledged pop star on tunes such as the... Full story »

August 11, 2008, 11:47PM

GRAND RAPIDS -- A suspect being transported to the Kent County Jail kicked out a window of a Grand Rapids police cruiser and made a dash for freedom Monday night. The flight of fancy lasted one minute, authorities said. The man, who was not identified, was arrested on Calkins Avenue SE. He damaged the cruiser in the jail parking lot... Full story »

August 11, 2008, 11:11PM

COMSTOCK PARK -- The West Michigan Whitecaps gave up three runs in the 11th inning Monday night and dropped a 5-2 decision to the South Bend Silver Hawks at Fifth Third Ballpark. The Whitecaps (23-26 in the Midwest League second half and 60-57 overall) held a 2-0 lead after the third inning. West Michigan collected 11 hits, three singles coming... Full story »

August 11, 2008, 8:55PM

HOLLAND TOWNSHIP -- A Holland woman frantically called 911 Sunday when she could not get her father's 2007 Lexus ES350 to slow down, eventually running a red light and hitting another motorist. Click play to hear an edited recording of Mary Leonard's call to 911 Sunday when she realized her breaks were not working: Download mp3 file of Mary Leonard's... Full story »

August 11, 2008, 8:15PM

GRAND RAPIDS -- There's no doubt about it, students attending the new Dickinson Elementary on Wednesday will find it to be a cool school. Home to one of Grand Rapids' four year-round programs, students in past years were greeted by huge fans intended to bring some relief to sweltering Augusts in the 86-year-old building. Now, when summer vacation ends,... Full story »

August 11, 2008, 7:33PM

GRAND RAPIDS -- A deal between the city and police union officials will indicate Officer Matt Dwyer resigned from the force, rather than being fired in the aftermath of fellow Officer Robert Kozminski's slaying last year. Dwyer, 38, was dismissed by police Chief Kevin Belk and City Manager Kurt Kimball after he distorted the events surrounding him firing his... Full story »

August 11, 2008, 7:17PM

GRAND RAPIDS -- One of two teens charged with a pair of armed robberies in Wyoming has rejected a plea offer and has asked for a trial. Jeremy Deanda is charged with multiple felony counts including armed robbery, conspiracy to rob, assault and illegal use of a firearm. Deanda and his alleged accomplice, 18-year-old Luis Gaston, allegedly spent April... Full story »

August 11, 2008, 7:13PM

OTTAWA COUNTY -- Voters in Ottawa County and Holland Township may be asked on the Nov. 4 ballot to consider lifting a long-standing ban on Sunday beer and wine sales. Organizers of a county petition drive to lift the Sunday ban -- the Say Yes to Sunday Committee -- said Monday they had exceeded the 37,756 signatures needed to put... Full story »